We Have Dumped Akpabio, ADV Students Wing Insists

- Faults NAAKISS Over Attah, Udoedehe
Former pro Akpabio ADV students wing now pro Positive Change 2011 with the name “Akwa Ibom Democratic Movement” has reacted to media reports by Akwa Ibom Democratic Voice, ADV that their original students wing have not defected from the camp to support Senator Udoedehe.

Speaking through its founder, Comrade Daniel Asuquo, the group said the reaction was an attempt to rebuild the collapsed structure of the continuity advocates in the State in view of the harm the defection has brought the organization. Flanked by his executive, the group said: “We are surprised that some of our leaders only respond promptly to the effect of an action instead of the issue(s) that caused its occurrence.

“As far as we are concerned, the students' wing of Akwa Ibom Democratic Voice (ADV) had since dumped the continuity slogan to Positive Change 2011. If anyone tells you anything to the contrary, he is just expressing his opinion to appease his paymaster.

“A house can only stand when the foundation and pillars are in place but where such foundation and pillars collapses, those who are interested in the debris only try to gather them together such that the losses could be reduced. This is the exact fate of the remnant of Akwa Ibom Democratic Voice (ADV) students wing if at all the have put another structure”.

Continuing, they said: “When we were in Akwa Ibom Democratic Voice (ADV), we were taken for granted, our numerical strength as eligible voters were not important to them. They underrated our active political participation as potential political leaders; our voices were not heard, we were deprived of our dignity hence they used us as money making tools.

“When we complained, nobody was ready to attend to us… It became expedient that we make known the fact that we are important and indispensable in the business of politics since power resides with the people.

“They have no right to complain against our resolve to join the majority and canvass for Positive Change come 2011 in the state”.

Justifying their defection to positive change they said: “We are operating a democratic system of government and not military system.

“Democracy guarantees freedom of association, the rule of law, majority rule, free and fair elections and right of the minority among others. The recent mass exodus of members in one of the Akwa Ibom Democratic Voice's (ADV) wings to the Akwa Ibom Democratic Movement (ADM) for Positive Change 2011 is a pointer to strengthening our democratic culture.

“We therefore call on all well meaning Akwa Ibomites to join us instead of following someone who does not believe in numbers but armory.

“By withdrawing from such leaders they will realize that power belongs to the majority not a single individual. Against this background, we therefore join millions of Udoedehe's supporters to canvass for Positive Change in the leadership of the state come 2011. We urge you all to follow us instead of sitting on the fence and being sycophants for the present government”, they stated.

ADV student wing now going with the name Akwa Ibom Democratic Movement used the occasion to caution National Association of Akwa Ibom students, NAKISS to stay off the politics of Akwa Ibom State so as not to incur the wrath of students in the state. According to them, NAKISS which was formed to protect students interest and work toward educational development in the state have since left the role to become political platform where insults are hauled on Elders in the state. The group was reacting to the recent publication by executives of NAKISS where they faulted Obong Attah's endorsement of Senator John James Akpanudoedehe recently.

Former ADV student wing while expressing regret over the dangers students of the state are likely to face in view of the subjective disposition to political issues by NAKISS, passed a vote of no confidence on the executive an called for its immediate dissolution since according to them, their tenure has long elapsed rendering their voices illegal and unconstitutional to NAKISS stating that: “As far as we know this NAKISS, their tenure has since elapsed… It is now left for the electoral board to conduct free and fair election where a true student representative will be elected to protect student's interest than persons who will betray their aims and objectives for selfish gains.

They should stop using NAKISS to misinform the innocent masses”, they added.